GOD is in the business of saving souls. So what is GOD, give it to GOD, and not the devil. As it is recorded in John chapter 20 verses 21 to 25 that “So the spies questioned HIM: “Teacher, we know that YOU speak and teach what is right, and that YOU do not show partiality but teach the way of GOD in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” HE saw through their duplicity and said to them, “Show ME a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. HE said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to GOD what is GOD’S.”
Life itself already have enough troubles of its own as a GOD-fearing person, so it doesn’t really help to get in more troubles that may regret forever.
We don’t want to get involved with secret societies that bury money in the grave, like dead people, while they know it could be used to help those in really need. We don’t want to get involved with people who make bloody sacrifices for money. If it was an accident, that’s why you did it, then it is because you didn’t know. Even the Bible says people can perish by what they don’t know.
If GOD wants that money to come to you, it will find its way to come to you by HIS Grace. It can come as a ransom for your hard work. As a gift or bonus or donation. As a business opportunity. As a job and salary promotion, and so forth.
If GOD wants that money to come to you, it will find its way to come to you by HIS Grace. It can come as a ransom for your hard work. As a gift or bonus or donation. As a business opportunity. As a job and salary promotion, and so forth.
GOD sees everything hidden. HE knows the truth about everyone. HE sees our efforts and our integrity. HE is always faithful and true, and HE is for our good.
Do you know that you can have all the wealth and still not be blessed? Two people can both be wealthy, even equally, but one is blessed and one may not be blessed. Even when they may both looked blessed and are wealthy.
The LORD JESUS told this story in the Bible in the book of Luke chapter 16 verses 19 to 31. It says that “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
The rich man didn’t go to hell because he was rich. He didn’t believe GOD, HIS Prophets, and HIS Servants, and the message HE sent to warn HIS People. It was because of HIS unbelief that's why he went to hell. If he believed in GOD and received the message that HE sent through HIS Prophets, the rich man's story could have been different.
Do you know that you can have all the wealth and still not be blessed? Two people can both be wealthy, even equally, but one is blessed and one may not be blessed. Even when they may both looked blessed and are wealthy.
The LORD JESUS told this story in the Bible in the book of Luke chapter 16 verses 19 to 31. It says that “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
The rich man didn’t go to hell because he was rich. He didn’t believe GOD, HIS Prophets, and HIS Servants, and the message HE sent to warn HIS People. It was because of HIS unbelief that's why he went to hell. If he believed in GOD and received the message that HE sent through HIS Prophets, the rich man's story could have been different.
Remember now, the Bible records that father Abraham was also rich in his time here on Earth, and even richest and blessed than this rich man in this passage if you had to compare.
What’s the difference between Abraham and this rich man then? Well, just study their lives, even though this rich man was only mentioned by the LORD JESUS once, in above Bible passage story of him and Lazarus. The Bible says, father Abraham believed GOD and in GOD, and because of that GOD counted him righteous. Abraham was a friend of GOD. Abraham was in right standing with GOD. Abraham was looking to please GOD. Abraham was striving to obey GOD. Abraham was not perfect, but he did his best he could to put GOD first priority.
And if you analyze this passage, you will learn that in the end, it is concluded that, Lazarus actually was more blessed than this rich man. Lazarus was poor and mistreated by people during his time on Earth, which is a short period of time compare to eternal life. Remember now, when the LORD JESUS told the story, it was already happened, and the LORD JESUS came more than two thousand years ago. Now imagine, if to this day that rich man is still in hell. Seriously? It’s not a really good ending.
Lazarus somehow missed Abrahamic blessings during his time on Earth, perhaps he didn’t know that he was entitled to it, he was stuck in poverty somehow, but in the afterlife, where people are judged righteously, nobody could take it from him what GOD said it belonged to him. Lazarus was counted to belong in Abraham’s bosom that is where his portion was, of real blessed people.
The Bible says when we become born again Christians and really submit to GOD, the LORD JESUS becomes our co-heir or joint-heir. In the book of Romans chapter 8 verse 17, it says that “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of GOD and co-heirs with CHRIST, if indeed we share in HIS sufferings in order that we may also share in HIS glory.” Meaning that where the LORD JESUS will be, that’s where we will be. And The LORD JESUS said Himself that, HE is the way to get there. No one can go to our HEAVENLY FATHER, but through HIM. Just follow HIM by faith, when times come, HE will get you there. How HE gets you and me there, it’s not up to you and me to figure out.
In the book of John chapter 14 verses 1 to 6, The LORD JESUS said “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in GOD; believe also in ME. My FATHER’S house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with ME that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to HIM, “LORD, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” JESUS answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to The FATHER except through ME.”
But the LORD JESUS also said in the book of John chapter 20 verses 34 to 38 that “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are GOD’S children, since they are children of the resurrection. But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the LORD ‘The GOD of Abraham, and The GOD of Isaac, and The GOD of Jacob.’ HE is not The GOD of the dead, but of the living, for to HIM all are alive.”
I was listening to this Pastor one day, and he said that before the LORD JESUS CHRIST came, when people of GOD, the Saints of B.C (Before CHRIST), those who believed in GOD and HIS prophets, those who followed GOD Ways of living in the Old Covenant or the Old Testament, when they died, they would go to this Abraham bosom that the LORD JESUS mentioned as we have read earlier. This Abraham bosom was the place when Saints who died physically they would go there. And when The LORD JESUS died and rose from dead, when HE went back to HEAVEN, it was when HE took them, those who were in Abraham bosom at the time, with HIM to HEAVEN and to our HEAVENLY FATHER.
What’s the difference between Abraham and this rich man then? Well, just study their lives, even though this rich man was only mentioned by the LORD JESUS once, in above Bible passage story of him and Lazarus. The Bible says, father Abraham believed GOD and in GOD, and because of that GOD counted him righteous. Abraham was a friend of GOD. Abraham was in right standing with GOD. Abraham was looking to please GOD. Abraham was striving to obey GOD. Abraham was not perfect, but he did his best he could to put GOD first priority.
And if you analyze this passage, you will learn that in the end, it is concluded that, Lazarus actually was more blessed than this rich man. Lazarus was poor and mistreated by people during his time on Earth, which is a short period of time compare to eternal life. Remember now, when the LORD JESUS told the story, it was already happened, and the LORD JESUS came more than two thousand years ago. Now imagine, if to this day that rich man is still in hell. Seriously? It’s not a really good ending.
Lazarus somehow missed Abrahamic blessings during his time on Earth, perhaps he didn’t know that he was entitled to it, he was stuck in poverty somehow, but in the afterlife, where people are judged righteously, nobody could take it from him what GOD said it belonged to him. Lazarus was counted to belong in Abraham’s bosom that is where his portion was, of real blessed people.
The Bible says when we become born again Christians and really submit to GOD, the LORD JESUS becomes our co-heir or joint-heir. In the book of Romans chapter 8 verse 17, it says that “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of GOD and co-heirs with CHRIST, if indeed we share in HIS sufferings in order that we may also share in HIS glory.” Meaning that where the LORD JESUS will be, that’s where we will be. And The LORD JESUS said Himself that, HE is the way to get there. No one can go to our HEAVENLY FATHER, but through HIM. Just follow HIM by faith, when times come, HE will get you there. How HE gets you and me there, it’s not up to you and me to figure out.
In the book of John chapter 14 verses 1 to 6, The LORD JESUS said “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in GOD; believe also in ME. My FATHER’S house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with ME that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to HIM, “LORD, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” JESUS answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to The FATHER except through ME.”
But the LORD JESUS also said in the book of John chapter 20 verses 34 to 38 that “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are GOD’S children, since they are children of the resurrection. But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the LORD ‘The GOD of Abraham, and The GOD of Isaac, and The GOD of Jacob.’ HE is not The GOD of the dead, but of the living, for to HIM all are alive.”
I was listening to this Pastor one day, and he said that before the LORD JESUS CHRIST came, when people of GOD, the Saints of B.C (Before CHRIST), those who believed in GOD and HIS prophets, those who followed GOD Ways of living in the Old Covenant or the Old Testament, when they died, they would go to this Abraham bosom that the LORD JESUS mentioned as we have read earlier. This Abraham bosom was the place when Saints who died physically they would go there. And when The LORD JESUS died and rose from dead, when HE went back to HEAVEN, it was when HE took them, those who were in Abraham bosom at the time, with HIM to HEAVEN and to our HEAVENLY FATHER.
In the book of Matthew chapter 27 verses 51 to 54, it records that "And [at once] the veil [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth shook and the rocks were split apart. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints (GOD’S people) who had fallen asleep [in death] were raised [to life]; and coming out of the tombs after HIS resurrection, they entered the Holy City (Jerusalem) and appeared to many people. Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over JESUS, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, they were terribly frightened and filled with awe, and said, “Truly this was The SON Of GOD.”
GOD blesses those who humble themselves before HIM. You can’t manipulate GOD Blessings. HE gives it to whomsoever HE wishes and whatever season HE wishes. Our job is to get in right standing with GOD through the LORD JESUS CHRIST. In the book of 1 Peter Chapter 5 verses 6 and 7, it says "Humble yourselves, therefore, under GOD'S Mighty Hand, that HE may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on HIM because HE cares for you."
In the book of Proverbs chapter 13 verse 22, it says that “A good man leaves an inheritance [of moral stability and goodness] to his children’s children, and the wealth of the sinner [finds its way eventually] into the hands of the righteous, for whom it was laid up.”
If you live your life in wicked ways, what you have worked so hard for so long by using manipulative ways, will end up to be inherited by people you don’t even know. What was supposed to belong to your children, and children’s children, the ones who are supposed to transfer that wealth to other generations, instead of going to them, it goes to people you don’t even relate too. It disheartening, but it is recorded in Scriptures.
When I was involved in Youth Ministry Outreaches in my local Church, we would visit Orphanages a couple of times at least each year and we would spend an entire day, morning to evening, with the children, we would pray and worship together with them, then preached to them, eat together, and then we would play with them with fun activities, and then whatever we have brought we would give to their teachers and guardians and they would give to them later. During one of the visits, as we were going to one of the orphanages on behalf of the Church, I was listening to gospel songs on my phone and this one youth came and sit next to me and asked if he could listened also. And I remember that day, the minute I gave him one of the earphones, since it was playing in a shuffle mode, the song I was listening changed, and this song started playing, “JESUS, the lover of my life, YOU mean more than this world to me, I wouldn’t trade YOU for silver or gold, I wouldn’t trade YOU for riches untold, YOU are, YOU are my everything.” By the time the song was done playing, we finally arrived to the place of the orphanage. And I knew in my heart the LORD was speaking to me that day. I realized that HE was telling me, to love HIM, more than silver and gold, to not betray HIM in riches untold. I had that song in my phone, but that day when it shuffled for me to hear, it was my first time to play and hear it. I had the song in my collection but that day was the first time I listened to it. So each time I hear this song, its like a reminder to me that I need to keep the LORD my first priority in life and love HIM with all my heart, my soul, my strength, and my mind just as it says in the book of Mark chapter 12 verses 30 and 31.
People of GOD, all these things we need and want, if we seek GOD and HIS Ways of doing things will be given to our lives. That is what Matthew Chapter 6 verse 33 says, "But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) HIS Kingdom and HIS Righteousness [HIS way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of GOD], and all these things will be given to you also."
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